Catalina Plane Crash Victims Identified

Los Angeles officials on Thursday October 10 released the identities of three of the victims of a small plane crash that occurred on Catalina Island onTuesday night.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office released the names and ages of three of the five people found dead at the scene.

One of the people who died in the crash wasa 33-year-old Sr. Haris Ali of Fullerton.

Another body recovered from the crash was confirmed to be that of 55-year-old Margaret Mary Fenner.

The registered owner of the plane was identified as Ali Reza Safai, 73, of West Hills. Safai's wife identified him as one of the people aboard the plane. The coroner's office also confirmed that Safai was one of the victims.

Two unidentified victims are believed to be men in their 30s.

The crash occurred around 8 p.m. Authorities said between five and six people were aboard the plane when it crashed about a mile west of the airport.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, they received an emergency SOS alert, informing them that someone was involved in an accident.

The plane is believed to have taken off from Santa Monica Municipal Airport and landed at Catalina Airport about 30 miles off the coast of Los Angeles County around 6 p.m. Tuesday. The plane took off again around 8 p.m., but it was unclear where it was headed. It was then that the authorities received the emergency alert.

Five people died following a plane crash that occurred Tuesday night, Oct. 8, on Catalina

Four of the five victim's identities have since been revealed as 73-year-old, Ali Reza Safai of West Hills, Haris Ali, 33, of Fullerton, Margaret Mary Fenner, 55, and famed artist manager Gonzalo Lubel, 34.

The remains were apparently recovered Oct. 9.

The Federal Aviation Administration, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, and National Transportation Safety Board all confirmed the incident.

At about 8:08 p.m. that night, the Avalon Sheriff's Station received a 911 S.O.S. message from a cell phone, according to a statement issued by the LA Sheriff's Department. The message reported that the phone had been involved in a collision with possible injuries, according to the LASD.

"Avalon Station deputies responded to the location along with Los Angeles County Fire Department, Avalon Search and Rescue, and Avalon City Fire Department members," the statement said.

The wreckage of the plane, a twin engine Beech 95, was found approximately 1 mile west of Catalina's airport, also known as the Airport in the Sky.

"While at the crash site, five adults were located and pronounced deceased at the scene," according to the LASD.

That same night, the FAA issued a statement that said, in part, "The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates."

"NTSB is investigating the Oct. 8 crash of a Beech 95-B55 airplane near Avalon, California. Preliminary information indicates the airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from Catalina Airport. An NTSB investigator is traveling to the scene and expected to arrive later today," according to a 1:10 p.m., Oct. 9, email from the NTSB media relations unit.

"Once on scene, the investigator will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. Part of the investigation will be to request radar data, weather information, maintenance records and the pilot's medical records. NTSB investigators will look at the human, machine and environment as the outline of the investigation," according to the NTSB.

"A preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the accident. The preliminary report will contain factual information gathered during the initial phase of the investigation. A probable cause of the crash, along with any contributing factors, will be detailed in the final report, which is expected in 12-24 months," according to the NTSB.

According to the NTSB website, "The probable cause for the accident will be included in a final report, which could take one to two years to complete."

The National Transportation Safety Board is asking anyone with video of the crash or information about the crash to contact the agency at witness@ntsb.gov.

Caption:

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Air Rescue 5 inserted Special Enforcement Bureau Tactical Medics assist with plane crash on Catalina Island.